Slaughtering cattle and educational values

Dr Kua Kia Soong

Any educationist must wonder if the news and images of the slaughter of cattle at a national school ever reached the consultants from McKinsey who wrote Malaysia’s Education Blueprint 2013-2025. As usual, there is a wide disconnect between the visionary pronouncements in the blueprint and the actual reality on the ground which makes us wonder if the RM20 million paid to the foreign consultant was money well spent.

Quite apart from the question of sensitivity to Hindus and Buddhists in slaughtering cattle in the school compound, within sight of school children, the larger issue of educational values seems to have been lost on the Education ministry.

Ethics and civilisation

The education system is intended to prepare every student to rise to the challenges they will face in adult life, to resolve conflicts peacefully, to employ sound judgment during critical moments, and to have the courage to do what is right. The emphasis in schools should therefore be on establishing a set of strong shared values held in common by all Malaysians:

• to be strong in one’s beliefs as a foundation for living well and to espouse high moral standards;

• to possess the courage, the discipline, and the will to do the right thing; and

• to act for the good of the entire nation, to care for others, animals and the environment around them.

Exposure to violence and bestiality is pernicious

Research evidence accumulated over the years has shown that exposure to violence on television and in video games increases the risk of violent behavior on the viewer’s part, just as growing up in an environment filled with real violence increases the risk of children acting in the same violent ways. Children are indeed fast learners and they learn most from how we behave rather than what we say. Any parent/ educationist can vouch for that.

Humane education has been widely recognized as an essential part of childhood education. By reaching children early in life, and focusing on instilling respect and compassion for animals, the goal is to stop potential abusers before they start.

The problem in this country is that educationists have been rendered superfluous or effete by religion-wielding politicians. What is clearly an educational issue has been twisted into a question of religious prerogative!

Teach our children to care for animals

If a child learns to care for animals and treat them with kindness, chances are they will transfer their experience to humans and foster a sense of empathy, understanding and respect for both their peers and adults. This is an area where the Education Ministry can work with the Home Ministry to try and create a more caring society and in so doing, reduce crime. Don’t all religions teach the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

Young children naturally identify with animals, and interactions with animals will teach children how to behave toward other people. Teaching schoolchildren to respect and protect defenceless animals is eminently more effective than “Rage against Bullies” campaigns. It helps them learn to value one another—and it prevents violence.

Say no to violence

According to published reports, in every highly publicized school shooting in the west, there has been one commonality, namely, all the young killers abused or killed animals before turning on their classmates. According to crime statistics profilers, psychiatric documentation, law-enforcement officials, and child advocacy organizations, many of those who direct violence toward humans have a record of having hurt animals.  Cruelty to animals is considered one of the symptoms that predict the development of a psychopath.

Teach kindness by example

Teaching kindness and respect for animals is the first step in teaching children empathy. Adults and educationists have the responsibility to teach schoolchildren empathy and lead by example through caring activities and language.  Our primary education in the fifties and sixties used to include “Nature Study” and schools would have a “Pets Corner” to nurture love for all living things. This seems to have been displaced by the obsession with Math & Science in the new Education Blueprint.

To conclude, the appropriate place to slaughter animals for food is within the walls of the abattoir. That is what abattoirs are built for. On the other hand, the modern humanistic school is the hallowed ground where school children learn to nurture loving kindness towards all living things.